Turbine-blower.



W. MGCLAVE.

TURBINE BLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1911.

Patented July 25, 1911.

' Pateflted July 25, 1911.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. MOCLAVE.

TURBINE BLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1911.

Patented July 25, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l E o srarns PATENT orrrcn.

WILLIAM MCCLAVE, F SGRAN'I'ON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 lVIcCIiAVE-BROOKS i COMPANY, 0F SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TURBINE-BLOWER.

Specifici-ation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1911.

Application led January 24, 1911. Serial No. 604,410.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, VVlLLIAM McCLAvn, a citizen of the United States, Yresiding .at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine-Blowers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact-description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a. part of this specification, and to the figures and .letters of reference marked thereon.

'lhis invention relates to air forcing apparatus, and more especially to that type of air forcing apparatus embodying a high speed rotary fan which is directly v driven by the iin'pact of an elastic fluid under pressure, against turbine buckets which are connected and rotate in unison with the fan itself.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple and highly -eilicient apparatus adapted either for blowing or suction purposes and with which the air passing through the fan may be delivered free from the exhaust steam or other elastic driving fluid.

Other objects. of the invention are to provide a structure which is'I susceptible of ready adjustment and which shall be capable of necessity of repair. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings,-'Figure 1 is a verticalsection through a turbine blower embodying the present iinprovement; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the blower shown in Fig. vl; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation showing an arrangement ofthe casing and fan particularly adapted for use in supplying' air to boiler furnacesyFigs. 4 and 5 are elevations, at right angles to each other, of a'section of the ring of turbine buckets; Fig. 6v is a detail showing the arrangement of 'one of the jet nozzles; F vig'. 7 is a detail elevation of the thrust bearing; Fig. 8 is anend elevation of the rotating thrust ymember; and Fig. 9 vis ably made sectional in order to provide for the more ready assembling 'of the parts. As shown, the casing is in two sections A'and Y having' their meeting faces 1n u.- plane long and continuous use Without the transverse to the axis of the fan and adapted to be connected together by peripheral bolts a. The casing as a whole is generally cylindrical in forni and has an external exhaust chamber which when no fan and turbine is'in place, communicates with the interior of the casing through an annular radial passage, in which passage the turbine buckets and jet nozzles are located, as will be presently pointed out. Conveniently, the exhaust chamber and passage are formed by radial `flanges A2 and A3, which at their outer edges terminate in the joint faces of the two' sections A, A ofthe casing, Onersection of the casing, that indicated by the reference letter A,-is provided with a fixed internal axial hub B supported by radial arms BQ preferably three in number, as shown in Fig. 2. -Said hub is adapted to support a tubular shaft C projecting forwardly or inwardly into the companion section of the casing A to form the journal for the blower fan l). The hub 'ci of the latter, in the preferred construction, is 'chainbered from the outer end, for the reception of a bushing or sleeve al, which takes its bearing, or tits upon the tubular shaft or journal C. The hub l of the fan is tapered at its `inner end and left solid whereby itpresents no joints or openings and otlers but little resistance to the closing in of the air after its passage through the fan. ln order however to relieve the inner end of the shaft from Wear due to the outward thrust of the fan, as well to provide a means whereby the position of the fan-longitudinally of its axis may be adjusted, a central rod or rotary thrust member E is secured at itsI inner end in the hiiband` passes outwardly or rearwardly. through the hollow shaft C. At 4its outer end it is providedwith a bearing shoulder or flange c (Fig. 7 adapted to bearon the outer end of the vshaft so'as to hold the fan against inward movement. Preferably, the movable thrust member E is screwthreaded into the hub of the fan, the thread being of opposite pitch from the'direction of'rotation of the fan, whereby the thrust member will'not be loosened. The outer end ofthe thrust member is provided with a squared portion e to which a wrench may be applied for securing it in position or vremoving it, and with' a hardened thrust face or block e2 adapted to cooperate with a set screw F which isadjustably mounted in aV jection 3 on the basel.; The dovetail projec-v removable bridge piece G on the fixed hub or spider B, B. The set screwF is held in adjusted positionby a lock nut f and provides a ready means whereby wear due to thrust may be compensated for. It may be noted that the thrust faces of the fixed and movable thrust members are preferably Vfiat faces, so as to give ay large surface contact and avoid the necessity of accurate centering and balancing, such as would be necessary if point or cone bearings were employed. The outer end of the movable thrust member within the shaft is supported in a bushing E and oil is supplied to the hollow shaft, bushings andthrust bearings through an oil duct extending in through the vertical spider arm B from an oil cup of ordinary construction mounted on the. upper side of the casing.

The fan is usually formed with a relatively wide peripheral ange `or rim D', the outer face of which runs in proximity to the inner face of the cylindrical casing, and projecting from the rim D into the channel between the faces of the casing sec-y tions, is a radial flange H which may be integral with the rim D but is preferably separate therefrom and secured thereto through the instrumentalities of a foot piece h and screws or bolts 7L. Conveniently, the flange H projects parallel with and in prox-y imity to the inner face of the channel formed by the outer sectionv of the casing, and it has attached thereto or formed integral therewith a concentric series of turbine bucketsA projecting therefrom parallel with the axis of rotation of the fan whereby the steam or elastic propelling fluid is adapted to flow radially out into the exhaust chamber.

In the preferred construction, the turbine buckets are made in sections each embodying but two or three buckets I (see Figs. 5 and 6), an outer or face flange I',

and an inner or base fiange of dovetail section as shown at I2. In addition, each section is rovided with acentral 'dovetail protions and flanges are united to the ange H by having the latter cast about them. In

practice the' flange H is made ofone of the aluminum alloys, while the buckets and parts integral therewith are made of gun metal, or one of the bronze alloys which will have' high tensile strength and resistance to deterioration under the influences to 'which it is subjected in use.

By forming the buckets in sections difficulties due tol unequal vexpansion and contraction, are largely overcome, and each section is of light weightl whereby liability of destruction due to centrifugal force is reduced. f

The buckets are mounted on the flange H a suiicient distance outside of the foot H to form a chamber orchannel in which the jet nozz es may be located.

The jet nozzles K are mounted upon or formed integral with couplingsL which pass in through rectangular openings in the flange of the casing, as best .seen in Figs. 1

and 6, and are adapted to be bolted or secured in place on said casing by screws l shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 Each coupling is in communication wlth asteam supply pipe M through nipples m, said steam supply pipe being branched as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the ends of the branches provided with drip cocks m. The

jets from the nozzles are directed tangenv tially to strike the buckets at the proper angle for advancing them by impact and reaction in the well understood manner, the steam during its action on the buckets and in escaping therefrom tothe exhaust cham.

ber, movin radially out into the said chamber from w ence it is freeto escape through the exhaust pipe O at one side of the casing, the exhaust being assisted, if so desired, by a supplemental exhaust nozzleP f edthrough a valve controlled branch p ivfrom the steam pipe M.

Theentry of steam freni the nozzles or from the exhaust chamber into the fan area of the casing, is prevented not alone by the close fit between the working faces, but by the centrifugal action which creates a relatively strong outward" pressure through between the working faces'of the fan flanges and casingfthus the apparatus is well adapted for delivering dry air, although it will be understood of course that under some circumstances the exhaust pipe may be carried around and the steam discharged with the air at any suitable point of delivery.

In the formof the apparatus illustrated i in Figs. 1 and2, the two sections ofthe casring are adaptedto be mounted upon sad-A dles Q on a base plate Q, preferably so as to' be removable therefrom, as shown, and the .ends of the casin are adapted forconnection with inlet an exhaust pipes Q2 and Q3, respectively, this arrangement being particularly useful in a conveyer system where the air is caused to travel in circuitand during its travel through a portion of the circuit to carry wit-h'lit ashes, cinders, or other matter to be transported from one point to another. 'In Fig. 3, however, 1t will be noted that the outer end or section R of the casing, while conforming in other respects to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is not adapted for the attachment of a supply pipe, but is somewhat flared and forms the entrance aperture for the air. This construction is particularlyA well adapted for steam boiler blowers, and in this instance the inner'section R may be extended in its cylindrical form `so as to pass through and be supported in the ash -pit wall. In other In operation the impact and reaction of the elastic driving fluid sets up a rapid rotationof the fan, and the latter causes the air to travel through the easing. The particular pitch orcharacter of the fan blades is not of importance' in so far as the present invention is concerned` but is of course adapted for the speed at which the fan ist-o be rotated and the volume'of' airL to be handled at tliatfspeed of rotation.

Having thus described my invention, what I Aclaim anddesire to ,secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a turbine driven blower, the combination lwith a casing having an exterior peripheral exhaust chamber and an annular radial channel opening into thev exhaust chamber, of a fan journaled in the casing and having a peripheral flange projecting radially into said channel, turbine buckets on the flange, and jet nozzles on the inner side of the path of travel of the buckets and directed tangentially to cause the elastic driving fluid to travel radially outward substantially parallel with the radial plane of the flange. j

2.. In a turbine driven blower, the combination with alcasing having an exhaust chamber around the outer side of the same and an annular radial channel betweenvthe inside ofl the casing and chamber, oi' a fan journaled in the casing, a peripheral flange on the fan projecting into the annular ras dial` channeLturbme buckets mounted on `the flange and. projecting substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the fan, and jet nozzles on the inner side of the buckets, whereby the yelastic driving fluid will flow radially into the exhaust chamber.

3. In a turbine driven blower, the combination with a casing having an annular radial channel at its periphery, of the fan journaled in the casing, a peripheral flange on the fan projecting into the annular radial channel, turbine buckets mounted on the O Aiange and projecting substantially parallel with the axis ofjrotationof the fan, and jet nozzles mounted in fixed position to direct the jets of impelling fluid ina direction to How radially through the buckets. y

4. In a turbine driven blower, the combination with a casing formed in sections, the meeting faces of said sections forming between them a peripheral radial channel and external exhaust chamber, of a fan journaled on a bearing mounted in one of said sections, a peripheral flange on the fan projecting into the radial channel, turbine buckets carried by the flange, and jet nozzles mounted in the radial plane of thel buckets to direct the flow of impelling Huid .radially through the buckets bel'. i e

5. lIn a .turbine driven blower, the combination with a casing formed in sections and ha ving the meeting faces of thesections Iinto. the exhaust cham forming a radial peripheral channel, and an exhaust chamber, of a fan journaled ou a bearing supported in one of said sections and havinga rim running in proximity to the inner face of the casing, a radiali-lange mounted on said rim and projecting into the channel, turbine buckets carried by the flange within the channel and projecting substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the fan, and jet nozzles lo .ated 011 the opposite side of said buckets from .the exhaust chamber,v whereby the impelling fluid will be caused to travel radially through the buckets and into the exhaust chamber.

6. In a turbine driven blower, the com-A bination with a. substantially cylindrical casing hai-'lng a peripheral channel and exhaust chamber, and an internal splder and hub, of

\ a shaft mounted in said hub, a fan'journalcd `on said shaft and having a peripheral flange projecting into the c liannel,tu1bine blades on said flange projecting substantially parallel with the axis of lrotation of the fan, jet nozzles in ther channelon the inner side of the buckets for directing the impelling fluid outwardly through the .buckets into the exhaust chamber, and means for adjusting the position of the fan longitudinally on its axis, whereby the position of the fiange and blades in the channel may be regulated.

7 In a turbine driven blower, the combination with a casing formed in sections, the meeting facesof said sections forming between them a peripheral channel andexhaust chamber, and one of said sections ,having an internal spider and hub, of a shaft supported by said hub, a fan carried by the shaft, a peripheral flange on the fan projecting into the channel between the sections of the casing, turbine buckets mounted on said flange and projecting substantially parallel with ,the axis of rotation of the fan, jet nozzles projecting in an opposite d1r ec tion from the buckets on the inner side thereofV and directed tangentially outward,

and an exhaust pipe connected with the exhaust chamber. y

8. In a turbine driven blower, the combination with a casing' formed in transverse sections with a peripheral channel between the sections a fan journaled in a support carried by one ofthe sections and havinga radial flange with turbine buckets thereon projecting into the channel, and jet nozzles carried by the other section,"whereby upon separating the sections the fan will be removed from the jet nozzles and steam pipe connections.

9. In a turbine driven blower, the combination with a casing having an internal fixed spider and hub, a hollow shaft fixed in said hub, a fan journaled on the' shaft, and peripheral turbine buckets carried by the fan, of a movable thrust niember inounted in the fan and projecting outwardly through the hollow shaft and a fixedthrust member with which said movable member cooperates mounted on the outer side of the fixed hub@ Y 10. In a turbine driven blower, the combination with a casing having a fixed spider and internal hub therein, the hollow shaft xed in said hub, the fan driven on said shaft, and the peripheral turbine buckets carried by the fan, of a movable thrust member mounted'in thefan and extending outwardly throu h the hollowshaft, a head on the outer en of said thrust memberfa coperating thrust member adjustable to o xed positions at the outer end of the movable member, and a support for said cooperating thrust member oarriod by the xed'hub.

11. In a turbine driven blower, the oombinat-ion with a easing having .an internal spider and hub, a hollow shaft ixed in the hub, and a fan journaled on the shaft, of a headed movable thrust member extending through the shaft and separablyconnected with the fan at its inner end, a bridge earried by the hub at the outer end of the shaft,-

and a thrust member adj ustably mounted in said bridge to cooperate with the movable thrust member on the opposite side of the hub from'that on which the fan is mounted.

WILLIAM MCCLVE. Witnesses:

THOMAS DURANT, ALEXANDER S. S'rnUAn'r.. 

